Gas safety burner



Feb. 28, 1950 R. E. NEWELL GAS SAFETY BURNER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 INVENTOR. ROBERT E NEWELL ATTORNEY Feb. 28, 1950 R. s. NEWELL GAS SAFETY BURNER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 m mA Int 2 w flaw U i m l m Y\\\ .K U ZZ, i

2 m 2 3 mm m m-H m an MN m m 5 \k 3 I 8 I Q l 1 I I[|| a I I I. E J 1 mm 5 mm mm mm my 3 A g Q 5 W a 2 S 8 Mm INVENTOR. ROBERT E. NEwE L ATTORNEY Feb. 28 19 50 R. E. NEWELL GAS SAFETY BURNER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1947 ma v . INVENTOR. Roam-r E. NEWELL U L F m. fi

M Nu m0 v a nu w mjumn ATTORHEY Patented Feb. 28, 1950 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS SAFETY Robert E. Nowell, Irwin, Pa.

Application October 10, 1947, Serial No.779,165

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to safety controls for gas burners, and more particularly to a device for controlling the operation of a valve that supplies gas to a main burner and a valve that controls supply of gas to a pilot burner.

Among the rules of the American Gas Association is one that requires automatic shutting oif of gas supply to burners, upon blowing out of a flame or failure in gas supply. This 100% safety feature is especially desirable where bottled gases such .as protane and butane are used.

Gas supply valves, which are automatically opened to provide for flow of gas to a bur-ner, are frequently inadequate to provide for full flow to the burner, while with manually-operable valves there is danger that the operator will open the valve for flow of gas to the main burner before the pilot is lit or other steps taken to ignite the gas at the main burner. This, of course,

also to prevent the re-establishment of a flow of gas to a main burner until after the pilot burner has been lit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a main gas-supply valve that can be manually operated to provide a desired full flow of gas to a main burner, but which valve is controlled by a thermally-responsive device in such manner thatit cannot be opened until after a pilot burner has been lit.

Still another object of my invention is to provide for control of a gas valve or valves by a tubular thermally-responsive element to one side of which gas flames will be applied to provide for flexing of the tube, the tube walls at zones or areas removed from the flame-contacting wall of the tube being of reduced thickness so that not only will the tube be flexed in a lateral direction more readily, but there is reduced heat-conductivity from the flame side to the opposite side.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure ,1 is a side elevational view of a gas control device a-p.- plied to a burner; Fig. 2 is .an inner end view of the device of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View on an enlarged scale of the device of Fig. l and taken on the line III-III of Fig. 4; Fig, 4 is a View taken on the line IV-.-IV of Fig. .3 Fig. 5 is a view showing certain of the operating parts of .Fig. 3 in the positions occupied by them h t e fl of s o the burner and. thepilot LES-"117.19

is shut oli: .Fig. .6 is a view showing the combined valve stem and latch bar of Figs. 3 and 4, with certain of itsassociated elements; Fig. 7 is a View taken on the line VII-VII of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a face view of the trip-plate of Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is an end view of the :air mixing valve of Fig. 4, for the "pilot burner tube; Fig. 10 is a view taken on the line XX of Fig. 4, and Fig. 11 shows a modification of the structure of Fig. 4.

The apparatus comprises a valve casing l I having an :inlet 12 and an outlet l3 through which gas is supplied'to a'main-burner 14. The casing is alsoprovi-decl with an inlet 15 and :an outlet l6 through which gas is directed to a pilot burner H.

.A main valve seat 18 is provided in the valve body I I and a valve 20 cooperates therewith to control ifiOWDf gas to the main burner 14. The

' v lve 2B is yieldablyu ged toward its seat by a spring 21'! that is interposed between a sealing washer :22 in a cap 23 and the disc 20. The disc -2i.lis slidably supported upon a valve stem 24,

which serves also as a latch bar in a manner 'to-be hereinafter described. A flexible valve disc 25 woperates with an annular valve seat 25 to control flow of a supply of pilot-burner gas from the inlet 15 through a port 21,, a port 28 and a port 219 to the outlet at it where it passes through an orifice member 3| into the pilot tube [1.

Thexvalve stem 24 projects from the rear side of the casing H and has .a pull-button 32 rigidly secured thereto. The pull-button has a tubular extension; 33 that is flattened on its upper-side as shown more clearly in Fig. '7, such flattened area engaging with a flattened surface on a tubular eiitensionM of the cap 23, so that the valve stem will be held against any rotative movement. The extension 34 is threaded to receive a protective and covering bonnet 35 which is removed whenever there is occasion to manually operate the valve stem.

A tube 36 of amaterial which is readily responsive to temperature changes has threaded connection with the valve body H, and at its outer end is closed by acap 31 that is welded thereto.

A collar or ring 38 :is rigidly secured in the tube and in turn rigidly supports .one end of a rod 39. The rod 39 has rigidly secured thereto a member 4| of generally bell-shape that supports acombined trip and latch plate 42 welded to the end of the member 4i.

When one side of the thermally-responsive tube. 36 is heated by flames :irom jet openings 43 in the tube I1, the outer end of the tube will shift or flex laterally, thus swingingthe rod 39 and hence shifting the plate 42 in a generally radial direction. To facilitate this movement of the tube under temperature changes, the top and bottom walls thereof are thinned as shown at 44. Such reduced section not only makes the tube more flexible, but retards the transmission of heat by conduction from the flame-engaged side of the tube to the opposite side thereof, thereby making the tube more readily responsive to the flames at the jets 43, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 3.

When the movable parts of the apparatus occupy the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there is flame present at the jets 43 and at the pilot jet 45, and the forward end of the valve stem 24 is in abutting engagement with the plate 42; and the valves 20 and 25 are being thereby held open. A

thimble 41 which is circumferentially depressed at 48 into an annular recess 49 in the stem and therefore is non-slidable on the rod, abuts against a thimble that is provided with a flange 52 and is slidable on the valve stem. When the valve stem is drawn outwardly by its button 32 to compress a light expansion spring 53 between the thimbles 4l-5| and to bring the thimble 4'! against the thimble 5!, further movement will pull the valve 20 from its seat H5 thus permitting flow of gas to the main burner l4. At this time, the valve 25 for the pilot gas is also being held in open position as hereinafter explained.

The valve 25 is of flexible material such as rubber and has frictional engagement with the valve stem 24 so that it will be flexed through longitudinal shifting of the stem. It is held in place in the valve casing by a washer 54 and a split ring 55 that has snap fit with a groove in the valve body.

Air for mixture with the gas that enters the pilot tube l! is supplied through an opening 56 in the side of the tube. A coil 51 that is slidable air desired. One end of the coil 5! is bent in- Wardly at 58 (Fig. 9) and has a sharp edge or corner that will bite somewhat into the tube ll, so that the coil will be held against accidental movement.

In case of the failure in gas supply or extin-' guishment of the pilot burner, with consequent extinguishment of the flame jets at 43, the tube 35 will become c001 and will return to its original position, which movement shifts the rod 39 and the plate 42 a suflicient distance to move theplate out of abutting engagement with the inner end of the rod 24, thereby allowing the spring 2| to push the rod inwardly and to move the valve 20 to its seat. This movement of the rod or valve stem 24 also moves the valve disc 25 against its seat 26. Flow of gas to the main burner and also to the pilot tube I! is thereby automaticall shut off.

This movement of the rod carries its latch-like extension 69 through a slot 6! in the plate 42, to the position shown in Fig. 5. At this time, the spring 53 yieldably holds the rod 24 in its foremost projected position and the thimble 41 is spaced inwardly from the thimble 5|.

If now it is desired to again'light the main burner, the protective bonnet 35 will be removed, whereupon the valve stem 24 will be pulled outwardly, but the distance of outward movement will be limited by engagement of the latch shoulder at -60 with the plate 42. This movement, however, is sufficient to move the valve disc 25 from its seat and allow gas to flow to the pilot tube ll. The movement is not sufiioient, however, to move the valve 28 from its seat, and the spring 53 is weaker than the spring 2 l.

The jets of the pilot tube can then be lit. In a few seconds, the thermally-responsive tube 36 will become heated on one side sufflciently to cause it to flex to a degree that will release the plate 42-from the latch 68. iThe valve stem 24 can then be manually pulled outward, to open the valve 26. for a full supply of gas to the main burner, the thimble 41 being brought into engagement with the thimble 5| during this movement, to move the valve 28 from its seat. This expansion of the tube will result in the shifting of the rod 39 and its plate 42 to a position at which the inner end of the rod 24 will again have abutting engagement with the plate 42 as in Fig. 3.

This control unit can be used in connection with a manually or thermally operated valve in a gas line (not shown) that leads to the valve body inlet l2.

In Fig. 11, I show a modification of the structure of Fig. 4, in that there is no automaticallyoperated valve for controlling flow of gas to the pilot burner. This cheaper and simpler structure will be permissible where the less explosive gases of lower B. t. u. value, such as ordinary natural or city'gas, are used.

In the structure of Fig. 11, pilot gas is admitted through a port 55 and the orifice member 3| into the pilot tube H. The valve disc 25 and the associated ports of Fig. 4 are omitted, but otherwise the structure will be the same as in Fig. 4; and the-valve stem 24 cannot be moved a distance sufficient to open the gas valve 20, until after the jets of the pilot burner tube ll have been lit.

I claim as my invention:

1. Control apparatus, comprising a main valve for controlling flow of gas to a main burner, a spring yieldably urging the valve to its closed position, a pilot burner in the form of a tube having flame jet openings, a thermally-responsive tube in position to be heated on one side by the flame jets, a second valve for controlling flow of gas to the pilot burner tube, a valve stem for holding the second valve closed when the 'stem' is in a forwardly-projected position, a

spring-pressed member yieldably urging the stem to its forward position, a lost-motion connection between the stem and the main valve for pulling the main valve in an opening direction when the stem is being retracted beyond the point at which the second valve has been opened, and means actuated through heating of the thermally-responsive tube on said one side, for holding the valve stem in its retracted position and for releasing the stem upon cooling of said side. 2. Control apparatus, comprising a main valve for controlling flow of gas to a main burner, a spring yieldably urging the valve to its closed position, a pilot burner having flame jet open- 'ing,'a thermally-responsive element in position to be heated by the flame jets, a second valve for controlling flow of gas to the pilot burner, a valve stem for holding the second valve closed when the stem is in a forwardly-projected position, a spring-pressed member yieldably urging the stem to its forward position, a lost-motion of the thermally-responsive element, for holding the valve stem in its retracted position and for releasing the stem upon cooling of said element, the said means serving also to limit retractive movement of the stem under -manually-applied force, to a point at which only the second valve can be opened, while the element is cold.

3. Control apparatus, comprising a main valve for controlling flow of gas to a main burner, a spring yielda'bly urging the valve to its closed position, a pilot burner in the form of a tube having flame jet openings, a thermally-responsive tube in position to be heated on one side by the flame jets, a second valve for controlling flow of gas to the pilot burner tube, a valve stem for holding the second valve closed when the stem is in a forwardly-projected position, a spring-pressed member yieldably urging the stem to its forward position, a lost-motion connection between the stem and the main valve, for pulling the main valve in an opening direction when the stem is being retracted beyond the point at which the second valve has been opened, a trip rod in the thermally-responsive tube, positioned to abut the forward end of the valve stem when the tube side is hot, to hold the stem in retracted position, with the main valve and the second valve open, the rod being released from the stem upon reflexing of the tube through cooling of its said side.

4,. Control apparatus, comprising a main valve for controlling flow of gas to a main burner, a pilot burner, a second valve for controlling flow of gas thereto, a valve stem for operating said valves, means yieldably urging said stem to a projected position at which the valves are closed, .a thermally-responsive device operable to hold the stem in retracted position and the valves open, when the device is Subjected to heat at the pilot burner and to release the stem when the device becomes cold, and means for releasably limiting retractive movement of the stem from its foremost position, to a point at which only the second valve is opened, and releasing the stem for full retractive movement upon heating of said device.

5. Control apparatus, comprising a valve chamber, a main valve therein for controlling flow of gas through the chamber to a main burner, a pilot burner, a second valve in the chamber, for controlling flow of gas from the chamber to the pilot burner, a valve stem for operating said valves, means yieldably urging said stem to a projected position at which the valves are closed, a thermally-responsive device operable to hold the stem in retracted position and the valves open, when the device is subjected to heat at the pilot burner and to release the stem when the device becomes cold, the said device comprising a tube communicating at one end with the valve chamber and gas tight otherwise, and also having one side exposed to flame at the pilot burner, in a generally vertical plane, those portions of its walls extending to the other side thereof being thinner than the first-named sidewall, to reduce the rate of heat transmission.

6. Control apparatus, comprising a valve chamber, a valve therein for controlling flow of gas to a burner, a thermally-responsive tube communicating at. one end with the valve chamber and gas tight otherwise, and also having operative connection with said valve, and a burner positioned to heat one side of said tube, the tube being flexed through heating and coolmg thereof, to thereby control valve movements, and the tube being of thicker wall section at that area which is engaged by the burner flame than at other areas thereof.

7. Control apparatus, comprising a main valve for controlling flow of gas to .a main burner, a spring yieldably urging the valve to its closed position, a pilot burner in the form of a tube having flame jet openings, a thermally-responsive tube in position to be-heated on one side by the flame jets, a second valve for controlling flow of gas to the pilot burner tube, a valve stem for holding the second valve closed when the stem is in a forwardly-projected position, aspring-pressed member yieldably urging the stem to its forward position, a lost-motion connection between the stem and the main valve for pulling the main valve in an opening direction when the stem is being retracted beyond the point at which the second valve has been opened, a relatively weak spring at said connection, for projecting the stem further forwardly upon closure of the main valve, means actuated through heating of the thermally-responsive tube onone side, for holding the valve stem in its retracted position and for releasing the stem'upon cooling of said side, and a latch device engageable when the stem is at its foremost projected position, to limit retractive movement of the stem under manually applied force, to a point at which only the second valve can be opened while thetu-be is cold, the latch being released upon heating of the tube.

8. Control apparatus, comprising a valve body, a main valve therein for controlling flow of gas therethrough to a main burner, a spring yield- .ably holding the valve in its closed position, a thermally-responsive tube carried by said body and projecting forwardly therefrom, a trip rod in the tube and having its outer end rigidly connected to the outer end of the tube, a pilot burner in the form of a tube extending from the valve body and having flame jet openings adjacent to one side of the thermally-responsive tube, a gas port leading from the valve body to the pilot burner tube, a valve for said port, a valve stem projecting from the rearside of the body and extending forwardly to a position adjacent to the inner end of said trip rod, a lost-motion connection between the valve stem and the main valve, for holding the valve open against its spring pressure when the stem is in its retracted position, and for releasing the valve for closing movement, when the valve stem is moved to its projected positions, a connection between the stem' and the second-named valve, to effect opening and closing of the said port through longitudinal movements of the valve stem, and means on the trip rod, for holding the stem retracted and the main valve open when the thermally-responsive tube is heated on one side by flames from said jet openings and for releasin the valve stem for a projecting movement under pressure of the spring that closes the main valve, when the jet flames become extinguished, the said movement of the stem serving to close the valve of said port.

9. Control apparatus, comprising a valve body, a main valve therein for controlling flow of gas therethrough to a main burner, a spring yieldably holding the valve in its closed position, a thermally-responsive tube carried by said body and projecting forwardly therefrom, a trip rod in the tube and having its outer end rigidly connected to the outer end of the tube, a pilot burner in the form of a tube extending from the valve body and having flame jet openings adjacent to one side of the thermally-responsive tube, a valve for said port, a valve stem projecting from the rear side of the body and extending forwardly to a position adjacent to the inner end of said trip rod, a lost-motion connection between the valve stem and the main valve, for holding the valve open against its spring pressure when the stem is in its retracted position, and for releasing the valve for closing movement, when the valve stem is moved to its projected positions, a connection between the stem and the second-named valve, to effect opening and closing of the said port through longitudinal movements of the valve stem, means on the trip rod, for holding the stem retracted and the main valve open when the thermany-responsive tube is heated on one side by flames from said jet openings and for releasing the valve stem for a projecting movement under pressure of the spring that closes the main valve, when the jet flames become extinguished, the said movement of the stem serving to close the valve of said port, and a lost-motion latch connection between the stem and the trip rod, for positively limiting retractive movement of the stem to a distance that only the valve for said port is opened, the latch being automatically released when the thermally-responsive tube becomes heated on one side by said flames, and the stem being then further movable under manually-applied retractive force, to a point at which the main gas valve is opened and the forward end of the stem becomes again engaged by the trip rod and. thereby held in its retracted position.

10. Control apparatus comprising a valve for controlling flow of gas to a burner, a valve stem for operating the valve, means yieldably urging the stem to a projected position at which the valve is closed, a thermally-responsive device that moves into position to hold the stem in retracted position and the valve open, when the device is subjected to heat, and which will release the stem when the device becomes cooled, a latch bar and a keeper for releasably holding the stem against retractive movement to a point at which the valve is opened, and a connection between the thermally-responsive device and the keeper, for retaining the latch bar in its holding position, the said device being movable under the application of heat, to move the keeper and release the latch bar. 11. Control apparatus, comprising a valve chamber, a valve therein for controlling flow of gas to a burner, a thermally-responsive tube communicating at one end with the valve chamber and gas tight otherwise, and also having operative connection with said valve, and a burner positioned to heat one side of said tube, the tube being flexed through heating and cooling thereof, to thereby control valve movements, and the tube being of thicker wall section at that area which is engaged by the burner flame and at the diametrically-opposite side thereof than at the areas connecting these two wall sections.

ROBERT E. NEWELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,607,343 Davenport Nov. 16, 1926 1,651,817 Gordon Dec. 6, 1927 2,042,942 Hirschler June 2, 1936 2,064,909 Hahn Dec. 22, 1936 2,163,801 Newell June 27, 1939 2,179,633 Jenkins Nov. 14, 1939 2,195,903 Roberts et al Apr. 2, 1940 2,256,998 Brumbaugh et a1. Sept. 23, 1941 2,363,525 Higley et al Nov. 28, 1944 2,418,867 Burch Apr. 5, 1947 

